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Current Definition (current + definition)
Selected AbstractsInadequacies of absolute threshold levels for diagnosing prediabetesDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 1 2010Michael Bergman Abstract Prediabetes comprising Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) represents an intermediate stage of altered glucose metabolism between normal glucose levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with an increased risk for the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is considerable evidence that glucose levels lower than those meeting the current definition of prediabetes may also be associated with similar risks particularly in high-risk individuals. Prediabetes is often unrecognized and therefore constitutes a major public health concern suggesting the need for earlier intervention than is currently recommended. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The ethical nature of critical research in information systemsINFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008Bernd Carsten Stahl Abstract., Critical research in information systems is based on and inspired by ethics and morality. In order to support this proposition, this paper will suggest a way of classifying critical research that differs from definitions common IS research. According to the current definition, research is critical when it is motivated by the intention to change social realities and promote emancipation. Based on this critical intention, critical research is furthermore characterized by critical topics, critical theories, and critical methodologies. Using these criteria of critical research, the paper argues that critical research is ethical in nature. To support this view, the paper introduces the concepts of ethics and morality by analysing two traditions of moral philosophy, here called the ,German tradition' and the ,French tradition'. Using three examples of current critical research in information systems, the paper will show that ethics and morality strongly influence critical intention, topics and theories. Having thus established the ethical nature of critical research, the paper concludes by discussing the weaknesses of critical research from the point of view of ethics and morality. [source] Full-wave analysis of single cylindrical striplines and microstriplines with multilayer dielectricsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 8 2006Farid Bouttout Abstract In this paper, the spectral-domain method is used to calculate the propagation characteristics of cylindrical microstrip transmission lines. The problem is formulated using an electric field integral equation and the spectral-domain Green's function. The solutions of the field components are obtained in matrix forms, which facilitate the calculations of the Green's function and the power flowing over the lines. The Green's functions are obtained in terms of transition matrices over the dielectric layers. The obtained integral equation is solved by moment method using four kinds of basis functions. The convergence of the method is proven. Based on the power,current definition, a stationary expression for the characteristic impedance has been derived analytically. Numerical results of the effective dielectric constant and the characteristic impedance for various line parameters are calculated and analysed. The computed data are found to be in good agreement with results obtained using other methods. The formulation is then applied to covered microstripline, microstripline and stripline with air gaps, for which data are not found in the literature to date. The presented method is used to guide design of microstrip coil for magnetic resonance imaging. This method is also suitable for investigation of multiconductor strip lines. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Validity and utility of the current definition of binge eatingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 8 2009Barbara E. Wolfe PhD, FAAN Abstract Objective Binge eating, a cardinal symptom of bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), continues to pose challenges in terms of its definition and thus construct validity and clinical utility. This article reviews the available empirical data that support or refute the current DSM-IV-TR defined characteristics of a binge episode. Method A systematic literature review was conducted using Medline/PubMed electronic database on DSM-IV-TR defined binge characteristics and associated attributes. Results Data support the current DSM guidelines indicating that binge episodes typically occur in less than 2 h. Size of binge episodes has variability across BN and BED diagnostic groups. Loss of control (LOC) continues to be a core feature of binge eating. Negative affect is the most widely reported antecedent. Strikingly, little is known about binge episodes among individuals with anorexia nervosa-binge/purge subtype. Discussion Available empirical evidence supports the current DSM duration and LOC attributes of a binge episode in BN and BED. However, a more controversial issues is the extent to which size is important in the definition of a binge episode (e.g., subjective vs. objective episodes) across diagnostic categories and the extent to which binge size informs prognosis, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Further study of binge eating attributes in AN is needed. © 2009 American Psychiatric Association. Int J Eat Disord 2009 [source] Nursing Diagnosis: Is It Time for a New Definition?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 1 2008T. Heather Herdman PhD PURPOSE. The Diagnosis Development Committee (DDC) of NANDA International frequently receives proposed "physiologic" and "surveillance diagnosis" submissions that may not meet the current definition of nursing diagnosis (NANDA, 2007, p. 332). There has been a request for a vote on newly proposed definitions of nursing diagnosis, risk diagnosis, and syndromes. The purpose of this article is to provide information which enables members and interested nurses to continue the dialogue and to share their thoughts and also to consider the thoughts and information generated by the participants in the NANDA-I interest survey on the definition of nursing diagnoses. DATA SOURCES. An electronic survey of the current NANDA-I definitions, and potential changes to those definitions, was distributed via the NANDA-I Web site. This article summarizes the overall findings of that survey and provides an overview of commentary received from the 269 participants. CONCLUSIONS. It is necessary to continue the dialogue on this important decision and to provide a mechanism for input from members and interested nurses before reaching any conclusions on this subject. NURSING IMPLICATIONS. NANDA-I has been recognized as the leader in the development and implementation of nursing diagnoses and must act responsibly in assessing the changing and emerging trends in nursing practice and in responding to these trends. [source] Is It Time for a New Category of Nursing Diagnosis?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2 2007Geralyn A. Meyer PhD Professional vigilance, the art of "watching out," is the essence of nursing. Vigilance is the mental process that makes the informed nursing actions of assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation possible and meaningful. Nursing vigilance must be described in our nursing terminology or it risks remaining invisible to others. We propose that the current definition of nursing diagnosis be expanded to include surveillance diagnoses for which the nurse has the responsibility for problem identification and ongoing monitoring. Inclusion of surveillance diagnoses in the NANDA International taxonomy will better reflect the breadth and depth of nursing practice. [source] Three case reports of aggressive periodontitis associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis in younger patientsJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2002Isao Ishikawa The terms ,early onset periodontitis' (EOP) and ,juvenile periodontitis' (JP) were replaced by that of ,aggressive periodontitis' in a recent international workshop for the classification of periodontal diseases and conditions. The chief etiologic agent for aggressive periodontitis is considered to be Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in localized juvenile periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis is also mentioned as the etiologic agent of the aggressive periodontitis, although to date its role remains questionable. This communication describes three cases of aggressive periodontitis found to be associated with P. gingivalis but not A. actinomycetemcomitans by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our findings clarify the role of P. gingivalis as an etiologic agent in this type of periodontitis and confirm its inclusion in the current definition of aggressive periodontitis. [source] Pores in the Sieve and Channels in the Wall: Control of Paracellular Permeability by Junctional Proteins in Endothelial CellsMICROCIRCULATION, Issue 3 2001GIANFRANCO BAZZONI ABSTRACT Exchange of solutes and ions between the luminal and abluminal compartments of the circulation is critically dependent on the barrier properties of the vascular endothelium. Transport of solutes and fluids occurs along the transcellular and paracellular pathways that are mediated by intracellular vesicles and intercellular junctions, respectively. Although the ability of endothelial cells to dynamically regulate permeability has long been recognized, the precise mechanism and the signaling pathways involved have not been fully elucidated. Finally, current definition of the complex molecular composition of intercellular junctions is expected to explain the difference in permeability between diverse segments of the circulation and possibly to highlight the existence of specific junctional channels. The properties of junctional adhesion molecule-1 (JAM-1) and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), two transmembrane components of interendothelial junctions, are described in detail. [source] Identification of transient hub proteins and the possible structural basis for their multiple interactionsPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008Miho Higurashi Abstract Proteins that can interact with multiple partners play central roles in the network of protein,protein interactions. They are called hub proteins, and recently it was suggested that an abundance of intrinsically disordered regions on their surfaces facilitates their binding to multiple partners. However, in those studies, the hub proteins were identified as proteins with multiple partners, regardless of whether the interactions were transient or permanent. As a result, a certain number of hub proteins are subunits of stable multi-subunit proteins, such as supramolecules. It is well known that stable complexes and transient complexes have different structural features, and thus the statistics based on the current definition of hub proteins will hide the true nature of hub proteins. Therefore, in this paper, we first describe a new approach to identify proteins with multiple partners dynamically, using the Protein Data Bank, and then we performed statistical analyses of the structural features of these proteins. We refer to the proteins as transient hub proteins or sociable proteins, to clarify the difference with hub proteins. As a result, we found that the main difference between sociable and nonsociable proteins is not the abundance of disordered regions, in contrast to the previous studies, but rather the structural flexibility of the entire protein. We also found greater predominance of charged and polar residues in sociable proteins than previously reported. [source] The ecological differentiation of asexual lineages of cotton aphids: alate behaviour, sensory physiology, and differential host associationsBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2009ADRIANA J. NAJAR-RODRÍGUEZ The cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) is a cosmopolitan pest species consisting of various host plant-associated lineages that appear to have different patterns of insecticide resistance, electrophoretic banding, and reproductive output across alternative host species. Debate continues as to whether these differences represent intraspecific variation or indicate a complex of cryptic or sibling species. We studied the host plant-related ecology of two asexual lineages of A. gossypii associated with the families Malvaceae and Cucurbitaceae, respectively, in particular the host plant finding and acceptance processes of the alate forms. The two lineages proved to be differentiated across host plants in terms of: (1) their landing and settling behaviour, nymphal production rate, and subsequent colony establishment (i.e. nymphal survival and development) and (2) their sensory abilities in relation to host plant-derived odours. Furthermore, genetic structuring according to host plant type was detected using the gene for elongation factor 1-,. The magnitude of the genetic differentiation across lineages was low, perhaps indicating a relatively recent divergence. The results demonstrate: (1) the presence of (at least) two cryptic species within the current definition of A. gossypii, as anticipated in previous studies, and (2) the practicalities of using a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the ,limits' of asexual species. If sexuals can be generated from each of these lineages, this conclusion will be open to further testing. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 503,519. [source] Memory Strategy Development: Do We Need Yet Another Deficiency?CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2000Harriet Salatas Waters Recent discussions of strategy development have included the introduction of the concept of utilization deficiency. The present analysis examines the definition of utilization deficiency vis-à-vis the older contrasts between mediation and production deficiency and assesses the logical clarity of the current definition. Further, because utilization deficiency focuses on the transition from initial to proficient strategy use, the present analysis considers all of the possible types of strategy inefficiencies and evaluates whether the current definition of utilization deficiency precludes consideration of important strategy inefficiencies that have been documented in the existing literature and are likely to form the bulk of yet-to-be discovered inefficiencies. Although the emphasis on strategy inefficiencies is welcomed, the current analysis concludes that there are serious problems with the current definition of utilization deficiency, problems that both obscure important theoretical distinctions of the past and limit the investigation of strategy inefficiencies that are likely to play an important role in our understanding of the development of strategy use. Furthermore, the linear developmental model that frames utilization deficiencies from no benefit to sophisticated strategy use ignores the heterogeneity in strategy development that has been recently documented. [source] What Is an Asset Price Bubble?EUROPEAN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2003An Operational Definition This paper reviews and analyses the current definitions of bubbles in asset prices. It makes the case that one cannot identify a bubble immediately, but one has to wait a sufficient amount of time to determine whether the previous prices can be justified by subsequent cash flows. The paper proposes an operational definition of a bubble as any time the realised asset return over given future period is more than two standard deviations from its expected return. Using this framework, the paper shows how the great crash of 1929 and 1987,both periods generally characterised as bubbles,prove not to be bubbles but the low point in stock prices in 1932 is a ,negative bubble.' The paper then extends this analysis to the internet stocks and concludes that it is virtually certain that it is a bubble. [source] VULNERABILITY IN RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE; DESCRIBING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM?BIOETHICS, Issue 4 2008SAMIA A. HURST ABSTRACT Despite broad agreement that the vulnerable have a claim to special protection, defining vulnerable persons or populations has proved more difficult than we would like. This is a theoretical as well as a practical problem, as it hinders both convincing justifications for this claim and the practical application of required protections. In this paper, I review consent-based, harm-based, and comprehensive definitions of vulnerability in healthcare and research with human subjects. Although current definitions are subject to critique, their underlying assumptions may be complementary. I propose that we should define vulnerability in research and healthcare as an identifiably increased likelihood of incurring additional or greater wrong. In order to identify the vulnerable, as well as the type of protection that they need, this definition requires that we start from the sorts of wrongs likely to occur and from identifiable increments in the likelihood, or to the likely degree, that these wrongs will occur. It is limited but appropriately so, as it only applies to special protection, not to any protection to which we have a valid claim. Using this definition would clarify that the normative force of claims for special protection does not rest with vulnerability itself, but with pre-existing claims when these are more likely to be denied. Such a clarification could help those who carry responsibility for the protection of vulnerable populations, such as Institutional Review Boards, to define the sort of protection required in a more targeted and effective manner. [source] Principal Stratification in Causal InferenceBIOMETRICS, Issue 1 2002Constantine E. Frangakis Summary. Many scientific problems require that treatment comparisons be adjusted for posttreatment variables, but the estimands underlying standard methods are not causal effects. To address this deficiency, we propose a general framework for comparing treatments adjusting for posttreatment variables that yields principal effects based on principal stratification. Principal stratification with respect to a posttreatment variable is a cross-classification of subjects defined by the joint potential values of that posttreatment variable under each of the treatments being compared. Principal effects are causal effects within a principal stratum. The key property of principal strata is that they are not affected by treatment assignment and therefore can be used just as any pretreatment covariate, such as age category. As a result, the central property of our principal effects is that they are always causal effects and do not suffer from the complications of standard posttreatment-adjusted estimands. We discuss briefly that such principal causal effects are the link between three recent applications with adjustment for posttreatment variables: (i) treatment noncompliance, (ii) missing outcomes (dropout) following treatment noncompliance, and (iii) censoring by death. We then attack the problem of surrogate or biomarker endpoints, where we show, using principal causal effects, that all current definitions of surrogacy, even when perfectly true, do not generally have the desired interpretation as causal effects of treatment on outcome. We go on to formulate estimands based on principal stratification and principal causal effects and show their superiority. [source] Dumping: Trade Policy in Need of a Theoretical Make Over,CANADIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2006William A. Kerr But sufficient justification is to be found in the usage of the most authoritative writers and in the considerations of economy and precision of terminology for confining the term dumping to price-discrimination between national markets (original emphasis). Jacob Viner (1923, p. 3)1 Anti-dumping cases are on the rise internationally and are becoming a major weapon in the protectionist arsenal. The definitions of dumping, however, are not based on theoretically sound economic reasoning meaning firms are often falsely accused of engaging in unfair pricing practices when exporting. The historic bases of the current definitions are outlined and their theoretical deficiencies fully explained. Suggestions are made regarding how the definition of dumping used in international law could be put on a sound economic basis. Les cas d'antidumping sont internationalement à la hausse et deviennent une arme importante dans l'arsenal du protectionniste.Cependant, les définitions de dumping ne sont pas basées sur un raisonnement économique théoriquement sains, c'est à dire les firmes exportatrices sont souvent faussement accusées de s'engager dans des pratiques de tarification favorables. Les bases historiques des définitions courantes sont décrites et leurs insuffisances théoriques sont entièrement expliquées. Des suggestions sont faites concernant la façon dont la définition de dumping dans le droit international pourrait être basée sur des concepts économiques solides. [source] | ||||||||||||||||